Hundreds comment on ‘Imagine Orleans’

When the Orleans Community Partnership set up an exhibit, “Imagine Orleans,” that dreamed up different visions of the downtown, it expected to get some comments. They are now up to 400, and counting.

Doreen Leggett dleggett@wickedlocal.com @dleggettCodder

“Boardwalk from Boland Pond to the library. Yes!”

“Bring the cultural connection all the way to Jeremiah’s Gutter.”

“I hope the center remains a place for small independent businesses, no national franchises please.”

“Walking path from senior center to town.”

“What is this Maritime Heritage Center? Too big city, not Orleans. This does not look like an Old Cape Cod town, way too modern.”

When the Orleans Community Partnership set up an exhibit, “Imagine Orleans,” that dreamed up different visions of the downtown, it expected to get some comments. They are now up to 400, and counting.

“It is more than we ever expected to see,” said JoAnna Keely, one of the board members of the nonprofit. “This says something about people caring about the village; they are involved.”

The exhibit, which covers the walls in the Craine Room in Snow Library, is an amalgam of what exists downtown now, plus reachable goals and dreams. On top of the renderings, done free of charge by local architects, are numerous multi-colored sticky notes where people anonymously jot down their opinions.

“And they would come back – people would really look at it and think about it,” Keely said.

Although the exhibit will be up at the library until Monday, and then travel to town hall by popular demand, Keely said the partnership has catalogued the comments so far and definite themes have emerged.

One of the primary messages is Orleans’ charm as a seaside village -- it doesn’t need big changes or new large attractions.

“Those seem designed to fail,” said Keely, adding that 95 percent of viewers perceive Orleans as "a unique village."

“The village aspect, and the proximity to water and nature, are the primary reason for choosing Orleans as a destination, whether to live, or to visit. Keep new development within a village scale and design with an historical emphasis. A "Destination " business in Orleans most likely occupies a former house or historical building. Build on what is here. It already is in Orleans,” Keely summed up in her report to board members.

One example many of those who commented took issue with was a Maritime Heritage Center, which was depicted as a large building with lots of glass. They also didn’t like pocket parks with Spanish tile walkways, or the idea of a stage or artists’ shanties on Old Colony Way.

Todd Thayer is organizing “family friendly festivals” for the summer and has put up the shanties on his property near the farmer’s market. Thayer, who grew up in town, is asking people to reserve judgment, saying the plans will definitely match the town’s character.

“I want this to be the nicest, best looking, most economically vital town on the Cape,” he said.

Keely said there was also some confusion over what OCP is. To address that issue, the partnership will try and get the word out about what the organization is and does.